Legislative Updates: 113th Congress

Rep. Ted Deutch Co-introduces the Government by the People Act

Bill Reduces Influence of Special Interests in Washington

Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) joined Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-3) to introduce the Government by the People Act, legislation that would reduce the influence of big money campaign donors in Washington by amplifying the voices of everyday Americans in our elections.

According to the Sunlight Foundation, about 30,000 Americans amounting to just .01 percent of the U.S. population spent a combined $6 billion in an effort to influence the 2012 elections. The Government by the People Act aims to make candidates’ less dependent on the campaign contributions from special interests and a tiny sliver of the wealthiest Americans.

“Free speech isn’t free when only corporations and the super-rich can afford it,” said Congressman Deutch. “Our broken campaign finance system allows the priorities of those who can contribute the most money to set the agenda in Washington. We need the Government by the People Act so that middle class families who cannot afford to max out to candidates or set up Super PACs still have a shot at having their voices heard.”

Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21) is the author of the Democracy is for People Amendment, the most widely supported proposal in the House of Representatives to overturn Citizens United and other Supreme Court decisions that have undermined the integrity of the democratic process. Introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the U.S. Senate, the Democracy is for People Amendment would ban corporate spending in elections and enshrine in the Constitution the right of the people to limit the influence of private wealth in our elections through donation limits, public financing systems, and transparency laws.

The Government By the People Act would change the way our elections are financed through a combination of amplifying small donations with a newly created “Freedom From Influence” fund and creating a “My Voice” tax credit. Specifically,

• People would be encouraged to give small contributions through two parts of the proposal: first, contributions of $1 to $150 would be amplified on a six-to-one basis by a newly created “Freedom from Influence Fund.” No large contributions would be matched at all.
• The first $25 dollars people contribute would qualify for a “My Voice” refundable tax credit.
• Each candidate’s money from new fund, which would be financed by closing corporate tax loopholes, would be capped, and there would be strict enforcement of campaign finance laws, including disclosure of all donations.